CA DELTA REPORT
Updated - 8/24/2005
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Bob’s Bait Report www.themasterbaiter.com

Even the weather was cooler than before but it was still above 80 degree for most days of the week. This is one of the reason water temperature did not drop to preferred level for salmon run yet. The water temperature was still above 70 degree. Due to less water released from the damps that contribute to higher water temperature this year. It’s very strange when there was almost record rain this year but the water level is still very low like during the drought years.
Salmon fishing was slow with only few a caught during the weekend. A local fisherman and his friend got four salmon on 08/19/05 at his private fishing dock. Striped bass fishing is also slow. On 08/20/05 Don Garcia from Antioch got 25” striped bass at Isleton Bridge on shad. On 08/21/05 Jim Walter from Sacramento got 28” and 29: striped bass on blood worm at the mouth of Georgiana Slough and Mokelumne River. He also got three good size catfish 5 lbs., 7lbs. and 7-1/2 lbs on cut shad and crawdad combo.
Fishing for catfish was still good in most of the Delta channels since the water temperature is still ideal for catfish actively feeding in early morning or late afternoon.
This year is same as any other year in the past, the salmon run peak mostly in late of September through middle of October. In certain period of this time, salmon flood into the river when most of the anglers could get there limit early in the morning even a lot the boats trolled for salmon. In these weekends, most of the boat launches were filled including Brannan Island State park, Rio Vista, Vieira, Ko-ket Resort, Wimpy Marina, and Walnut Grove boat launch. In order to avoid very crowded days, try to schedule to fish during the weekday is the good idea and having more change to launch the boat at any favorite boat launch. Another thing should keep in mind is follow the fishing report from local bait stores by calling them to know the school of salmon pass through the areas where you plan to fish and what’s the lure is mostly used to catch at that time.
Since trolling for salmon is required more patients at more time to get good result than trolling for striped bass. The trolling technique for salmon is more complex than trolling technique for striped bass. Salmon does not feed during their upstream hatching journey. They very aggressively bite any thing swimming in front of them. That’s the reason the double blades spinner works wells and catches a lot of salmon in recent years.
If you are the first time or do not having a lot of experiences to troll for salmon in the Delta, you should get the advices from local bait stores in this region.
Best luck to you and have a nice summer weekend.

The Wilson Files- Mark Wilson

Wednesday, August 24, 2005...A happy anniversary to my wife, and thank you for letting me go fishing tonight. Enjoy the tree and I'm taking you to dinner tonight. Dan Bacher (Fish Sniffer) went striper trolling with me today down in the Sacramento River near Decker Island. We had a ball. Dan is a lot of laffs. Anyway, we trolled Bombers all day and the early troll was slow. Nothing in the first two hours. Then, a hookup on a really big fish than ran out to 280' and came off on the run. Next, we found some fish, and the next 5 passes resulted in 5 keeper stripers between 6# and 11#. After that, it was a fish here and a fish there. Final results were 3 lost fish, 2 shaker stripers, 10 keeper stripers, and 1 very, very, ugly squawfish. We quit at 2 p.m. and headed to Vieira's to filet fish before heading home. Good catching Dan, I had a great time. That's it. Good luck. Catch you later - Mark.

Kokanee Slows

Melanie Lewis reports “We are starting to see more rainbows taken by trollers- usually in mixed limits with kokanee. They are fat and full of shad- most are in the two-to-two-and-a-half pound range. Brightly colored Apex or spinners are what they are hitting, without flashers. Anglers who caught rainbows while trolling this week include John Darroch, Larry Gross, Lindsey George, Bill Cheney, and Richard Kowski. If you are fishing from the bank for trout, you will have the most luck in the local rivers and creeks. Night-fishing under submersible light is also producing limits. Some night-anglers use minnows, but a nightcrawler threaded up onto your line with new chartreuse Double-Glitter Power Bait or spring green Select Power Bait on your hook seems to be the best combo
Bass bite has been up and down, with fishing best at dawn, dusk and night. not many big fish but plenty of action for small keepers and almost-keepers. Fish are filled-to-the-gills with shad. Target main lake points and steep banks in the south side of the lake, and upriver. While there are lots of fish being caught relatively shallow, bigger fish may be deeper. Drag a Carolina-rigged 4” or 6” green weenie worm or Zoom Baby Brush Hog in green pumpkin, 25-30 feet deep. Since the water is stained, you may want to add rattles or brass’n’glass to make a little noise. With all the baby bluegill and bass in the grass in the coves, throwing a crankbait or worm in those patterns should get some action. Night fishing for bass is fun, especially during a full moon. Use big black or June bug worms or Senkos, or black or black/red spinnerbaits.
Hang on to your poles! Big cats are spawning in the cove areas, and are aggressively biting. Tuttletown, Angels Cove, Glory Hole Point, or under the 49 Stevenot Bridge are all good spots to try for big cats. Use mackerel, anchovies, or sardines, a sliding sinker, leave your bail open, and be sure your hooks are sharp. Night fishing is always best for catfish, but we see plenty caught during the day, too. Dave Rannis of LaHabra wins Glory Hole Sports’ Big Fish of the Week Contest with his 11.1 lb. cat caught, along with two others, on sardines. Don Sicka caught 5 nice cats weighing up to 8 pounds. Derek, Peter and Dylan Barrington caught 4 catfish, including a 7.5-pounder.

Lake Pardee

Water conditions: The Lake water level is still right at spill and holding. Temperatures varied a little since the last report, 82 degrees at surface and 76 degrees at the 20-foot mark. Water clarity remains unchanged at 17 to 20 feet. All measurements and readings were taken in the Recreation Area.

Trolling-Blistering temperatures have kept all but the hardiest anglers off the Lake this week. Spoke to a group of friends that got some nice Rainbows Thursday afternoon trolling in 30 feet of water in Mel’s cove and the Woodpile-go figure. No first hand reports to verify it but chances are the Kokanee are still keeping to the middle of the River Arm at 100 feet and below. The most popular lures remain the same, hoochies in florescent pink and green along with small beaded spinners in pink, red, blue and tire track. Tip your lures with scented shoe peg corn and drag it all behind a watermelon or large silver/blue dodger or sidekick.

Bank fishing-Century mark Temperatures have also discouraged bank fishing. No first hand info to report so its up to you to catch ‘em, get your picture taken and info recorded at the Marina. Stony Point landing still a good bet early but bring some shade and lots of cool drinks. Cast out further and put your bait in the deeper channels 30 to 50 feet off shore, as fish will go deeper to find cooler water. As a rule the bite is early and the newly planted trout can’t resist silver/blue casting lures and black wooly flies. For the more experienced and smarter Trout use a sliding sinker rig with a night crawler or processed bait in rainbow or chartreuse with sparkles.

Some success stories from July-William (last name missing) from Valley Springs landed a 13.8 lb catfish in the South end with chicken liver, I think. Bob Fisher, a local, got another nice cat, 15.1 lbs at the Logjam. Last but not least Leo Mc Carver landed an 8.7 lb largemouth off Rainbow Point using a worm, color not divulged.

As of 07/28/05 a total of 43,000 lbs of trout has been planted by Lake Pardee and the Department of Fish and Game with more scheduled for the weekend!

Good Luck---Tight Lines.

For information or reservations call (209) 772-1472

Camanche Bass and Catfish Action Decent
Reports from those who have been visiting Camanche are encouraging for the Bass anglers. The bass bite continues to be red hot this week. Lots of 1-4 pound bass are being caught around the rock piles and cliffs in the Lancha Plana area. Camanche Jack's worms and leeches in smoke, green, or purple are the colors most often mentioned. The submerged island tops in the main part of the lake have been giving up plenty of bass this week. Fish 10-15 feet deep, near deeper water. Tube baits and deep running crank baits are the ticket here. The big bass for the week was caught by young Dillon Parrish, of Elk Grove. He caught an awesome 6.2 pound bass on a minnow, fishing from shore in the campgrounds at North ShoreI have been fishing topwater lures, such as Ricos or Lucky Craft Pointer minnows in Rainbow or orange are taking some good ones as well. Works areas with wind pushed current around brush and thick grass cover near the Causeway and dike #1.

Catfish action has slowed down just a little but still biting. Use Mackerel, liver or nightcrawlers from 8 to 20 deep after dark. The Camanche arm and Causeway cove are among the hottest areas to try. Don't overlook the Trout or Beaver ponds at Southshore for after-dark Catfish.

Trollers who are on the water very early, or late, report finding fish from Hat Island to the Dam, above the old river channel. Now that water temperatures have topped 81 degrees the fish are very deep during the day .between 45-65 feet. Needlefish in chartreuse color, and R-Lures and Ex-Cel lures in green/gold, and blue/gold are reported as the most successful colors this week. The bait fishing at Dike 3 continues to be great for overnighters using Power Bait, Power Eggs, or night crawlers, especially when using underwater lights at night. Anchor in about 50 feet of water, and drop your bait to the bottom. The Camanche Hypolimnetic Oxygenation System, trade named the "Speece Cone", has been in operation since the 13th of August. The H.O.S. distributes oxygen to the lower lake waters at the dam. The southern end of the dam will soon become the best place to try for Trout as the oxygen-laden water provides ideal conditions within 30 feet of the surface. The "cone" usually operates until mid-to-late October to improve the waters released into the Mokelumne river fish hatchery.

Pennies on the dollar for fishing rods, reels, baits, lures, and more? You be the judge!